Billy Graham - Pray that Christ will draw your husband to faith

Thursday

Oct 4, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 4, 2012 at 7:05 PM

Billy Graham

Q: How can I get my husband to believe in Jesus? He’s a good person, and I think he believes that’s all it will take to get him into heaven. But whenever I try to tell him he needs to give his life to Jesus, we just end up arguing. — Mrs. K.F.

A: My wife, Ruth, liked to quote a homely old saying that she’d heard once: “More flies are caught with honey than with vinegar” — then she’d add, “ and more people are drawn to Jesus by love than by arguing.” And it’s true.

Don’t misunderstand me; I’m grateful for your concern for your husband’s eternal salvation. But only God can open the eyes of his heart and help him see his need of Jesus Christ. That’s why your first responsibility is to pray consistently for your husband, asking God to move in his heart by the Holy Spirit. God can do what we cannot do — and that includes convicting someone of their sin and drawing them to Christ. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).

In addition, ask God to help you be a witness by your life. What difference has Jesus Christ made in the way you live? Does your husband see Christ in you? Is the fruit of the Spirit evident to him? The Bible says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Make these your goal.

Often the hardest people to talk to about our faith are those who are nearest to us. But God loves your husband, so trust Him to answer your prayers — in His time.